Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK

AIR TRAVEL

‘Name Stockholm airport after Raoul Wallenberg’

Citing JFK and John Lennon International, a troupe of Sweden's leading politicians and social elite have launched a campaign to rename Stockholm Arlanda airport in honour of Raoul Wallenberg, the Swedish humanitarian who saved thousands of people from the Holocaust.

Published: 10 July 2013 10:45 CEST
'Name Stockholm airport after Raoul Wallenberg'

In a Wednesday op-ed in the Dagens Nyheter (DN) newspaper, the authors set out why Wallenberg, who rescued thousands of Jews during World War II, should receive the recognition, citing similar airport name changes to honour key figures of history – such as John F.Kennedy airport in New York, and John Lennon International in Liverpool.

“He should be honoured. Raoul Wallenberg is one of the Swedes who has done the most for humanity and human dignity. Many countries have made him an honorary citizen and it is time Sweden did something similar,” argued the op-ed authors, which includes former prime minister Thorbjörn Fälldin, former justice minister Thomas Bodström, ballet dancer Anneli Alhanko and Wallenberg’s sister Nina Lagergren.

Earlier this year, it was announced that Wallenberg would receive an official memorial day on August 27th. His life and legacy was celebrated throughout the twelve months of 2012 to coincide with what would have been his 100th birthday.

The campaigners have suggested that the main Stockholm airport should be called Raoul Wallenberg International Airport and phase out the moniker Arlanda altogether in the long-term.

“Raoul Wallenberg Airport would be a clear international symbol for the greatest example of humanitarianism and heroism in Swedish history,” added the debate article in DN.

Reaction to the suggested name change has been doing the rounds on social media.

“Honoured to be a signatoire in today’s article,” Social Democrat Ulf Bergström tweeted, with politicians from the other side of the political spectrum also adding their voice tot the move. Moderate MP Henrik von Sydow tweeted “Agree! Honouring humanism and deeds.”

Not all tweets were supportive, however, with some suggesting the abbreviation of Raoul Wallenberg International Airport may be incomprehensible. Others suggested that Stockholm should build a new airport and name that after Wallenberg.

A snap poll on the DN web site revealed that the vast majority of those polled were not in favour of the name change. At the time of publication, the poll was 21 percent in favour, compared to 79 percent against.

Arlanda airport got its name following a competition before it opened in 1959. It it a combination of the word Arland, where the airport is located, and the Swedish verb landa meaning to land.

Patrick Reilly

Follow Patrick on Twitter here

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.

TRAVEL NEWS

EXPLAINED: What can I do if I miss my flight due to Sweden’s airport chaos?

Stockholm Arlanda Airport is once again suffering hour-long queues for security due to a surge in travel and personnel shortages. What can you do if you miss your flight?

Published: 27 May 2022 09:40 CEST
EXPLAINED: What can I do if I miss my flight due to Sweden's airport chaos?

What’s the situation at Arlanda over the Ascension Day weekend? 

According to the airport operator Svedavia, the worst peak for the long weekend is probably over. “Today looks good with no long waiting time at Arlanda,” Ellen Laurin, the company’s press officer, told The Local on Friday. “Yesterday morning [Thusday], we had a morning peak before nine in the morning, and the rest of the day was OK.” 

According to Swedavia’s website, waiting times at security were less than five minutes on Friday morning.  

However, she warned that there could once again be big queues on Sunday when those who have travelled to Sweden over the long weekend make their way home. 

“Sunday is a big travel day when people will fly home again. There could be queues at peak times,” she said. “We recommend that passengers have a close contact with their airline for information about their flight. It is important to have extra time at the airport and to be prepared.  

READ ALSO: What’s behind the queues at Arlanda Airport? 

Which airports in other countries have problems? 

Arlanda is not the only airport facing problems due to delays staffing up again after the pandemic. On Friday morning, Twitter users were complaining of two-hour queues at the border control at Heathrow Airport in the UK, while at the UK’s Manchester Airport, passengers were reporting queues for security of up to two hours on Thursday. 

Dublin Airport is also facing regular two-hour queues at security. Amsterdam’s Schipol Airport had a 1km security queue on Thursday, pushing the Dutch airline KLM to cancel flights. 

Can I get compensation or insurance payments if I missed my flight due to the queues? 

The SAS airline has already underlined that it is their customers’ responsibility to make sure that they arrive at the airport in sufficiently good time to make their flight. 

“To be certain you can come with us, you should be in good time, and if you are in good time, you will manage to get your flight,” she told state broadcaster SR. “It is always the customer’s responsibility to be on your way as early as is necessary.”

People who miss flights are also likely to struggle to get payouts from travel insurance, warned Gabriella Hallberg, an expert on travel insurance at the Swedish Consumers’ Insurance Bureau. 

“If you’re at the airport and are hit by security controls that take a very long time, they consider that it is the consumer themselves who have not planned their journey,” she told SR. 

She said that it might be possible to find an insurance company that is willing to insure against flights missed due to security queues. 

SHOW COMMENTS